#Review By Lou of – The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels By Janice Hallett @JaniceHallett @ViperBooks #TheMysteriousCaseOfTheAlpertonAngels #Mystery

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels
By Janice Hallett

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels is by best selling author of The Appeal and The Twyford Code. It has intrigue and a sinister darkness. Check out the blurb and my full review below.

Blurb

THE SMASH HIT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER *** *** THE NEW MYSTERY PHENOMENON FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE APPEAL *** ‘The queen of tricksy crime’ – SUNDAY TIMES ‘Her best so far’ – MARIAN KEYES ‘Another resounding success’ – DAILY EXPRESS Open the safe deposit box. Inside you will find research material for a true crime book. You must read the documents, then make a decision. Will you destroy them? Or will you take them to the police? Everyone knows the sad story of the Alperton Angels: the cult who brainwashed a teenage girl and convinced her that her newborn baby was the anti-Christ. Believing they had a divine mission to kill the infant, they were only stopped when the girl came to her senses and called the police. The Angels committed suicide rather than stand trial, while mother and baby disappeared into the care system. Nearly two decades later, true-crime author Amanda Bailey is writing a book on the Angels. The Alperton baby has turned eighteen and can finally be interviewed; if Amanda can find them, it will be the true-crime scoop of the year, and will save her flagging career. But rival author Oliver Menzies is just as smart, better connected, and is also on the baby’s trail. As Amanda and Oliver are forced to collaborate, they realise that what everyone thinks they know about the Angels is wrong. The truth is something much darker and stranger than they’d ever imagined. And the story of the Alperton Angels is far from over. From the bestselling author of The Appeal and The Twyford Code comes a stunning new mystery for fans of Richard Osman and S.J. Bennett. The devil is in the detail…

Review

The Alperton Angels is another cracking case from Janice Hallett, the author of The Appeal, which turned out to be quite the phenomenon in the attraction it garnered. I first saw Janice Hallett talk about The Twyford Code and The Alperton Angels at Bloody Scotland in Stirling in 2022 with Joanne Harris. It captured my attention, little did I know I’d have the opportunity to review it.

Cults are always intriguing when it comes to books and tv. I’ve long been intrigued and horrified by them ever since a certain episode in Byker Grove, a tv series in the 1990’s for teens. So, this book piqued my interest. The book did not disappoint!

The mystery is thought-provoking in the questions it poses in what would you do in certain situations. It in turn also creates a sinister atmosphere.
There are 2 true crime writers trying to uncover and solve a few murders, a missing baby and what of the cult that is darker than anyone can imagine?

There’s a real depth and intensity with the story being told through articles, emails, transcripts and texts. The book is sufficiently dark and twisty that it keeps you gripped and guessing the truth until the end.

Thanks to Viper for the opportunity to review and for the book in exchange of an honest review.

#Review By Lou of Picture You Dead By Peter James @peterjamesuk @panmacmillan #Grace #PictureYouDead #CrimeFiction

Picture You Dead
By Peter James

Today I’ve decided to reveal my review on Picture You Dead by Peter James. It is in the DS Roy Grace series, which incidentally can be read in any order. There is also Grace on ITV at the moment with a different case. Discovering the books is also great, so you can now read and watch the works of Peter James. Discover the blurb and the review below.

Blurb

Discover the darkness that lurks around every corner in the latest instalment of Peter James’s award-winning detective series, which is now a major ITV programme starring John Simm as Roy Grace.

Detective Superintendent Roy Grace finds himself plunged into an unfamiliar and rarefied world of fine art. Outwardly it appears respectable, gentlemanly, above reproach. But beneath the veneer, he rapidly finds that greed, deception and violence walk hand-in-hand.

Harry and Freya, an ordinary couple, dreamed for years of finding something priceless buried amongst the tat in a car boot sale.

It was a dream they knew in their hearts would never come true – until the day it did . . .
They buy the drab portrait for a few pounds, for its beautiful frame, planning to cut the painting out. Then studying it back at home there seems to be another picture beneath, of a stunning landscape. Could it be a long-lost masterpiece from 1770? If genuine, it could be worth millions.

One collector is certain that the painting is genuine. Someone who will use any method he can to get what he wants and will stop at nothing.

And Harry and Freya are about to discover that their dream is turning into their worst nightmare . . .

Although the Roy Grace novels can be read in any order, Picture You Dead is the eighteenth title in the bestselling series. Enjoy more of the Brighton detective’s investigations with Find You Dead and Left You Dead.

Review

In Picture You Dead, readers, and Roy Grace are plunged into the dark, murky side of the art world, in-particular that of fine art, a world that makes for a great backdrop to crime fiction and Peter James mixes the two with aplomb.

Harry and Freya are just ordinary people leading ordinary lives and one painting could alter it all in unexpected ways and far from how they would want it to change. This is what leads D.S. Roy Grace and his team into territory that is unfamiliar to them, which leads them needing expert help in this area and come across the perfect match in the tv world, quite a stalwart. From there, it becomes more intriguing.

Picture You Dead is a highly engaging and enjoyable read!
It can be read as a standalone and the books can be read in any order.

Grace is a major tv drama series on ITV, currently at time of writing this review is in its 3rd series with John Simm playing Roy Grace and is currently touring in the UK with Wish You Were Dead, with George Rainsford as Roy Grace.

Thanks to PanMacmillan for a review copy.

#Review of Force of Hate By Graham Bartlett @gbpoliceadvisor @AllisonandBusby #BlogTour

Force of Hate
By Graham Bartlett

Force of Hate is an excellent, timely crime fiction book you don’t want to miss! I am delighted and excited to be on the blog tour, organised by the publisher – Allison and Busby. Check out more in the blurb and my review below.

Blurb

When a firebomb attack at a Brighton travellers’ site kills women and children, Chief Superintendent Jo Howe has strong reason to believe the new, dubiously elected, far-right council leader is behind the murders.

Against the direct orders of her chief constable, Jo digs deeper into the killings. She uncovers a criminal ring of human trafficking and euthanasia all leading to a devastating plot which threatens thousands of lives and from which the murderous politician looks sure to walk away scot-free.

Review

Force of hate is a searingly compelling portrayal of the darker sides of life. Superintendent Jo Howe has her work cut out what becomes increasingly twisted crimes that she reckons all points to the far right. It is twisty with euthanasia and human-trafficking amongst the crimes.

The tension tightly builds as you read more in what is a fast-paced read. It’s easy to get hooked into pretty quickly, even with some of the darkest of subject matters. I think it is great, however, that human-trafficking is portrayed in books. It keeps such an important matter highlighted. The book truly shows the extremities of behaviours and ideals, as well as creating a meaty story with lots for the police to get stuck into.

Amongst all the crimes, Graham Bartlett allows the readers to get to know the characters he writes, such as what they do, their personalities, their banter and so forth. It’s a team that’s well-written and for readers to feel involved in.

Graham Bartlett has served in the police force for many years and now writing novels as authentic as they get as a result of his years of knowledge and experience. It’s an important story he tells in a highly engaging, plausible manner.

Thanks to the publisher Allison and Busby for inviting me onto the blog tour and for the book to review from, as well as a copy of Bad for Good (which I will also review). that all arrived packaged up in a police bag.

About the Author

Graham Bartlett rose to become chief superintendent and the divisional commander of Brighton and Hove police. His first non-fiction book Death Comes Knocking was a Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller, which he then followed with Babes in the Wood. He co-wrote these books with bestselling author, Peter James. Bartlett is also a police procedural and crime advisor helping scores of authors and TV writers inject authenticity into their work.

#Review By Lou of Fire In the Mountain By AJ Aberford @AJAberford @HobeckBooks #DetectiveGeorgeZammit

Fire In The Mountain
By AJ Aberford

Fire in the Mountain is another terrifically gripping book published by Hobeck Books, who invited me onto the blog tour to give a review in-exchange of a book.

Blurb

A colleague in need
Superintendent George Zammit is persuaded to go to Sicily to investigate the disappearance of his superior’s niece.
There, George discovers a city overshadowed by the mighty Mount Etna, a huge volcano perilously close to a major eruption that would have disastrous consequences around the world.

The magic of volcano
George finds the volcano not only provides unlimited energy, but has long been worshipped by an ancient and mysterious cult, which believes it has the power of renewal and rebirth. Strange priests and monks wander the volcano’s flanks and the old volcanic tunnels, risking the wrath of Mother Etna to keep its secrets safe.

Unlimited power, unlimited wealth
The dark forces of organised crime have captured the green energy of the volcano and grown rich on the profits. Others have noticed this deep source of wealth and they gather to plot and scheme to take a share of their own. Rival organisations play their cards, leaving George trapped between the warring factions.

George enters a world beyond his control
In his quest to find the missing girl, George, and his unlikely allies, find themselves caught between the forces of nature, superstition and organised crime. It is time for a hero to step forward and risk all to take on all these competing threats. Can it be George? And how does he learn an important lesson about trust and loss?

Review

Fire in the Mountain is action-packed with the strange forces and energy of a volcano, family, mafia and fracking. George Zammit has his work cut out between the corruption and dark forces of Sicily and Malta. The juxtaposition of wonderful picture postcard scenery and food and the darker sides of the islands creates an explosive, gripping story.

Assistant Commissioner Gerald Camilleri‘s niece has gone missing, whilst out protesting against fracking. AJ Aberford brings politics, nature, family, power and policing very well together in what is a gripping, well-researched, tightly written crime book with superstition, cultish behaviours and crime. It’s quite the unexpected page-turner, after a slow-burn that will sweep the reader into the darker-side of life and will throw any misconceptions of the islands of everything being just right, deep in the water.

Fire In The Mountain is part of a series, but it is also, in terms of the crime, complete in itself, so works very well as a standalone novel.

#TVReview by Lou of Grace – Dead Like You based on books by Peter James @peterjamesuk @RiotComms @itvpresscentre @ITV #ITVX #ITVHub #ITVGrace #STV CrimeFiction #CrimeDrama #TeamRoyGrace #RoyGrace #Grace

Grace is back!!! ITV/ITVX/STV – Sunday 19 Mar 2023 8pm – 10pm.

Thanks to ITV and Riot Communications, I have a no spoiler, honest review of the first episode of series 3 of Grace, based on the books by Peter James. They kindly gave me the privilege of watching episode 1 of the new series ahead of time.
There are 3 episodes – Dead Like You, Dead Man’s Grip, Not Dead Yet. Each case is standalone, although there is a thread running throughout each series in the development of relationships of the characters, the cases are each completed within one episode, so even if you have not seen this before, you can start with this new series.

John Simm is back as DS Roy Grace in Brighton, this time solving a chilling event at the Royal Edward Hotel on the night of Assistant Chief Constable, Alison Vosper’s do. It is thrilling from the start from the start. DS Roy Grace’s team have some tough questions to ask and need all the courage they can get due to who they have to ask them to. This is far from an ordinary case. It reminds DS Grace of crimes of the past. Is it the same or is it a copycat crime? It adds to the air of mystery in what proves to be a chilling case.

The context of the case is well built and the crime is a sensitive subject, sensitively handled. Cleverly, a lot that is being talked about certain behaviours and attitudes both socially and politically are woven into the story.

The mysteriousness of the crime has an ever increasing tension and is also very sinister, sometimes enough to make your skin crawl. The incidental music, actually works well in this drama and truly does heighten the senses as tension rises.

It’s compelling and my attention was all on the screen as the story unfolded. The flashbacks are easy to follow and heightens context to the case.

It’ll have you at the edge of your seat!

John Simm plays DS Roy Grace with aplomb. His acting is highly convincing and it is interesting watching him act opposite Laura Elphinstone, who plays DS Bella Moy, Richie Campbell who plays DS Glenn Branson and Zoe Tapper who plays Cleo Morey, Craig Parkinson as DS Norman Potting. It is, between the main actors and supporting actors, an excellent cast who deliver a twisty, compelling script.

I highly recommend watching this series and I will definitely be tuning in to watch this again on Sunday 19th March on ITV at 8pm and then continue watching the rest of what looks like an exceptionally good series, going by this first episode of 3.

Thanks to Riot Communications and ITV for inviting me and for the box of goodies – gourmet salted caramel popcorn that is melt in your mouth, Paloma mocktail that is fruity and refreshing, a stick of Brighton Rock that made me smile and set me up for a seaside crime, 2 books by Peter James – Wish You Were Dead (Quick Reads) (also now a play currently on a UK Theatre Tour) and Dead Tomorrow.

#BookReview By Lou of The Pier By Matt Brolly @MattBrollyUK #PoliceProcedural #CrimeFiction #CrimeSeries

The Pier is a book in the DI Blackwell series by Matt Brolly. It can be read as a standalone or part of the series.The idyllic seaside setting doesn’t mean the human element matches it. Investigate more below in the blurb and then my opinions in my review.

DI Blackwell will do anything to keep her niece safe. And the bomber knows it.

When a local school is the target of a bomb threat, DI Louise Blackwell finds herself embroiled in her most personal case to date. Not only is her niece among the terrified pupils—there’s also a chilling note hidden under the device: Next time you won’t be so lucky, DI Blackwell…

The explosion of a nearby caravan offers a connection…and a suspect. But when he hangs himself after interrogation, leaving another note promising more carnage, Blackwell fears there’s an accomplice.

Could Tim Finch, a former DCI on remand for attempted murder, be pulling strings from prison? He certainly seems set on bringing Blackwell down, if only to derail the case against him. Or could the devious nephew of Max Walton, the serial killer Blackwell shot and killed, be seeking revenge on behalf of his uncle?

As the threats escalate and pressure to solve the case mounts, Blackwell is sucked into a series of horrific events that reach a chaotic and terrifying crescendo on Weston-super-Mare’s Grand Pier. Can she stand firm against a rival hell-bent on destroying her—or will she fall into the killer’s deadly trap?

The series is set in the seaside town in England of Weston-Super-Mare. DI Louise Blackwell is once again on a case, time there is a personal element as her niece is in the school that is the target of a bomb threat. It is chilling to the bone and yet we all know this sadly does happen somewhere in the world from time to time.

There is also the former DCI Tim Finch on remand for attempted murder as fiction mimics real life. He wants out and Max Walton also wants revenge. It is chillingly twisted and compelling as you can’t help but need to know how it can all end. There is a lot for DI Blackwell to untangle and there is a lot to handle with her emotions and the facts. The glimpses into her personal life are insightful, so readers have the opportunity to see her outwith her work mode and who else is in her world.
As the personal and professional collide, she is aware at what is at stake between the former DCI from her past wanting to ruin her life and what is happening to her niece and the people she knows. It is her toughest case yet to get to grips with, right up to an intense climax.

The Pier has plenty to engage in, contemporary themes and is action-packed with lots of emotion.